In a harrowing incident earlier this month, Shyenique Wilkins, a 30-year-old mother from Indiantown, Florida, experienced a shocking car accident that left her and her three young children in grave danger. On 8 February, Wilkins was driving with her children — A’driel, aged 8, Si’anni, just 5 months old, and Sage, who is 2 — when she apparently suffered a seizure, causing her vehicle to veer off the road and tumble into a nearby canal.
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Wilkins described her terrifying experience, revealing that she regained consciousness in a hospital bed, confused and frantic. “I woke up asking, ‘Where are my kids? What happened? Where am I?'” she told PEOPLE. Medical authorities later informed her about the seizure that led to the drastic turn of events.
Fortunately, amid the chaos, another driver, Casey Curtis, 40, spotted Wilkins’ vehicle as it careened off the road. “I saw the car in the rearview mirror,” Curtis recounted. Without hesitation, he called 911 and started following the trail into the underbrush. Despite warnings from the dispatcher about the potential dangers of entering the canal, Curtis was determined to assist.
“I heard the kids banging on the window and screaming that their mum’s head was underwater and that they needed help,” he recalled. With a calm resolve, he managed to open the car door slightly, and one by one, he freed Wilkins’ children.
The situation escalated as Curtis turned his attention to Wilkins, who was still trapped inside the vehicle, unconscious and submerged. With her life hanging in the balance, Curtis utilised his CPR training, performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until she began breathing again. Yet, the challenge was far from over, as Wilkins’ leg was lodged beneath her seatbelt and the rising water continued to pose a threat.
In a remarkable display of determination, Curtis managed to dislodge Wilkins and swim backwards with her until authorities arrived. Bodycam footage released by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office later depicted the frantic scene, with Curtis bravely holding Wilkins’ head above water while waiting for professional assistance to arrive.
Emergency services eventually extracted Wilkins from the vehicle, transporting her and the children to a local hospital. Miraculously, A’driel, Si’anni, and Sage were discharged later that day with only minor injuries, while Wilkins required more comprehensive medical treatment and was placed on a ventilator for a week. Initially unable to communicate verbally, Wilkins was provided with a pen and paper. “The first thing I wrote was, ‘Where are my kids?'” she said, recalling how she felt during those early moments.
When she was finally taken off the ventilator and moved from the ICU, Wilkins was overjoyed to be reunited with her children. Approximately a week after the accident, she met Curtis face-to-face for the first time in the hospital. “My heart was overwhelmed seeing him,” Wilkins remarked, recalling the emotions that surfaced upon meeting her rescuer.
Her daughter A’driel had also shown remarkable bravery during the ordeal, trying to keep her baby sister’s head above water while their mother was incapacitated. “I literally cried,” Wilkins expressed, acknowledging her daughter’s courage. “If it wasn’t for you, Mr. Casey and God, I literally would not be alive right now.”
As Wilkins continues on her road to recovery, she has garnered community support through a GoFundMe page set up by her niece. Grateful for the assistance, Wilkins expressed her heartfelt thanks to those who contributed to help cover medical expenses.
The connection forged between Wilkins and Curtis through this traumatic experience has blossomed into a lasting friendship. Curtis expressed his intention to stay in touch and has been invited to a family barbecue, to which he enthusiastically agreed.
While Curtis downplays his actions, saying, “I don’t wanna be a hero,” Wilkins is adamant that he will forever occupy that role in her life. “You’re literally the hero of my world,” she told him, grateful for his quick thinking and bravery that saved her family. Thanks to Curtis, Shyenique Wilkins and her children are safe — and now, they are all part of an extended family.